I'm finally at the point of giving the interior a makeover. I've been neglecting it for twelve years now, driving around with rags over the crispy foam on the seats. Torn, stained, and fallen headliner, every bulb blown in the dash, water leaking in through the cracked door seals, side windows rattling from deteriorated window channel and whiskers.
My girlfriend got me a headliner and windlace for Christmas from SMS fabrics to get me motivated. The past few months i've been working on it through the weekends, so i figure i'd post some things for you guys as i work on it, so you can get a glimpse of the project, or maybe pick up some ideas or references if you're planning on fixing yours up.
What i've been building is a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere, two door sedan. It's several cars into one. A significant amount of it is from 1955 plymouth savoys and belvederes. I used what i could from the parts cars but limited too because as you know they changed from 6 volt to 12 and changed the rear end and grill between those years. Most the rest was the same.

I couldn't find any decent push buttons so i had to sand mine with 1000 grit sandpaper to get the yellow out of the green plastic, then paint 3/4 of each of them black so the light from the new bulb will shine through. I put some color in the letters and sprayed a flash of clear on them.

The dash was very tedious and time consuming but i an happy how it's turning out. I still have a few more things to put on it like the stainless trim around the glove box and ashtray, and find a spot to put a clock.

I ordered the window channel and sweepers from Andy Bernbaum auto parts. I got the sweepers with the chrome edge. I was told the Belvederes didn't use the chrome strip type originally, but i got it anyways for something different. I wasn't sure how they were supposed to go on and didn't have any original ones for reference, but i didn't like it just going straight across to meet the window channel, so i took some extra time and figuring to put a bend in them to follow the window opening lines.

So, here's how far i have it this evening. I ordered some tack strips from michaels i'm probably going to rivet on in the nook above the front window, and around the rear side windows to snug the headliner tighter.

Powerflite, the carpet i used is one i got from a carpet/upholstery place that was going out of business. I put it in there when i first started building this car back in 2006. It's held up really good all these years, but i never put insulation of anything under it so it wore down in areas that have depresses in the steel on the floor pans. I plan on replacing it this summer and insulating under it. My girlfriend found a company called SMS Auto Fabrics. I've been getting the materials from them. I'm 100% certain they have matching materials for your Savoy if you ever need any. They even have the Aztec pattern that was on the seats. It's expensive though. I ordered three yards of it, but will have to change the layout and use more vinyl. Here's a sample sheet if you're interested..

The interior upholstery panels i got were in bad condition but in good enough condition to be restored. The backing board was warped and most of the fasteners were ripped out so i had to make new panels using the old ones as templates. I had to soak the old ones and flatten them back out so i could trace the outline and holes. I used 1/8" masonite or hardboard.They sell it in 4' X 8' sheets at home depot.

I put in the panel fasteners and pre fit them in the interior before i glued the padding and vinyl on. I like the look of the original aztec pattern and i'm going to use that pattern on the seats close to the original arrangement so i kept these close to how they were originally.

After installing the headliner i put a dome light in from one of the 1955 plymouths i use for parts. About 40% of this car is from 1955 savoys and belvederes. The headliner took some time and was tricky in areas, if any of you need information or advise, feel free to message me and i'll let you know what i went through in the process.

The back area is almost complete besides the seat. Those are going to go in last. Next week i'm going to start on the front door window channels, whiskers, seals, then redo the panels. It's starting to look like something again.

Thanks! I pulled it pretty tight, i like the fitted bowed look. I did not remove the windshield. I don't know why anyone would. I've heard several people saying you got to remove the windshield and back window, but it doesn't make sense to me. Maybe on other cars you've got to, but not a 1956 plymouth belvedere. I did have to remove the side windows to replace the window channel and wiskers though.
Here's a pic of the liner before i put the garnish molding on, above the front window. There are tack strips in that nook that hold the liner as you stretch it onto them. I sprayed it with upholstery glue too so it'll never go anywhere especially with the garnish molding pressing on it.

Justinsane - 2018-06-07 10:18 PM
The interior upholstery panels i got were in bad condition but in good enough condition to be restored. The backing board was warped and most of the fasteners were ripped out so i had to make new panels using the old ones as templates. I had to soak the old ones and flatten them back out so i could trace the outline and holes. I used 1/8" masonite or hardboard.They sell it in 4' X 8' sheets at home depot.

I like your thread. Congrats on the good work.

I too had to remake door panels. I also used 1/8" Masonite. Cutting the rectangular holes for the spring clips was a lot of fun (NOT). After I finished the first panel, I bought a pre-made set (cardboard) off eBay.

Justinsane - 2018-06-07 8:28 PM before i glued the padding and vinyl on.

Justin, looks good, what did you use for padding and how thick was it? I got some fake tan Naugahyde with a pattern in it at a local fabric store and I am looking forward very much to doing the panels. Thanks, Ray,

Awesome man, i checked out your thread. We went through the same thing. Did you end up stapling your vinyl on after you glued it and wraped it around the masonite? Because i used 1/8 board, i couldn't find any staples anyplace! The shortest at hardware stores are 1/4". I bought a stapler from the fabric store that takes staples like the ones for paper but a little more heavy duty, but most of them poked through so i pulled them out.

I've seen 5/32 staples from upholstery supply stores but it doesn't look like they go into the typical staplers sold at hardware stores. I tried nipping and grinding but had no luck. I got enough in to hold the corners where it overlaps and is thicker. I might just buy one of those staplers. I'll let you guys know what i find and how it works..

I put the old carpet back in for now, i replaced it back in 2005/2006 so it's still okay, but i'll probably replace it next year. I just want to get the seats reupholstered and put back in so i can drive it before winter.

Are those the factory Hi-Fi mounts or did you custom make your own? I would really like to see some more pictures of the mounts if you have any. And did you ever get in touch with my buddy Gary P about the radio?

We did get in touch, he doesn't have one that has the five pin socket for accessories. I'm still going to keep my eye out for one. The radio i have in there now doesn't have it either. I'm trying to find wiring schematics to put a socket in using amphenol plugs. I have a couple highway hifi players, the one that was in rough shape i disassembled to get parts for spares for the good player. The one in the picture is the one i gutted. For now i'm going to put an mp3 player and an amp in it so i can still have the tunes i want. I fabricated the gap plate out of 16 gauge stainless. It's close to the original plate except I added a 1/2 inch so it hangs slightly lower and put 1/2" pleats to fit that era, match the dash and door panels. I'll see if i have pictures of the parts for you. I think i have them on an old flash drive with other random pictures.

Nice project! I'm currently working on a 56 Belvedere 2 door HT, and I have three others at various stages of repair: a 56 Belvedere 2dr HT (different one from the current project), a 56 Belvedere Sport Sedan 4 door HT (same interior patterns as yours), and a 56 Savoy 2 door sedan.
I need to install headliners in all four, eventually.
Can you send me the details of how you installed your headliner? Looks like you did a very nice job, and I'd like to try one myself instead of taking it to the upholstery shop.

gradford - 2018-07-25 2:17 AM
I need to install headliners in all four, eventually.
Can you send me the details of how you installed your headliner? Looks like you did a very nice job, and I'd like to try one myself instead of taking it to the upholstery shop.

In the interim, you might want to follow this info that I posted previously: